The Rundown: French Montana, Excuse My French

A track-by-track review of the Bronx rapper's debut LP.

The Rundown: French Montana, Excuse My French - In a year strangely bereft of big rap releases so far, the cover for French Montana's debut album, Excuse My French, which drops today, May 21, is all too appropriate: Rap fans have been walking through a desert of sorts over the past several weeks. But French is perfectly poised to quench our thirst after releasing a series of talked-about mixtapes and playing a part, though mostly a supporting one, in several big hits over the past few years. After his impact on various posse cuts ("Stay Schemin'"), the pressure's on French to prove he can stand solo and cash in on his building hit-making cred with his own debut. Does he succeed? Or is French's buzz just a desert mirage? Click on to get our take with this track-by-track review of Excuse My French. —Alex Gale   (Photo: Bad Boy Records, MMG, Interscope)

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The Rundown: French Montana, Excuse My French - In a year strangely bereft of big rap releases so far, the cover for French Montana's debut album, Excuse My French, which drops today, May 21, is all too appropriate: Rap fans have been walking through a desert of sorts over the past several weeks. But French is perfectly poised to quench our thirst after releasing a series of talked-about mixtapes and playing a part, though mostly a supporting one, in several big hits over the past few years. After his impact on various posse cuts ("Stay Schemin'"), the pressure's on French to prove he can stand solo and cash in on his building hit-making cred with his own debut. Does he succeed? Or is French's buzz just a desert mirage? Click on to get our take with this track-by-track review of Excuse My French. —Alex Gale   (Photo: Bad Boy Records, MMG, Interscope)

"Once in a While" feat. Max B - It's not hard to get hyped listening to "Once in a While," the first track on Excuse My French. The moody piano chords and vocal samples have a certain epic drama to them, like you're about to experience something big. The drums merge more on good old-fashioned New York boom bap rather than the trap you were expecting to be bombarded with all album long. There's a Kanye West vocal sample. Max B, French's early collaborator and the undisputed father to his sing-songy, "wavy" style, calls in from prison with a co-sign — the kind of nod rare in rap nowadays. French rides the beat perfectly, with a fluid melody and a vastly improved agility. (photos from left: John Ricard / BET, Max B/Myspace)

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"Once in a While" feat. Max B - It's not hard to get hyped listening to "Once in a While," the first track on Excuse My French. The moody piano chords and vocal samples have a certain epic drama to them, like you're about to experience something big. The drums merge more on good old-fashioned New York boom bap rather than the trap you were expecting to be bombarded with all album long. There's a Kanye West vocal sample. Max B, French's early collaborator and the undisputed father to his sing-songy, "wavy" style, calls in from prison with a co-sign — the kind of nod rare in rap nowadays. French rides the beat perfectly, with a fluid melody and a vastly improved agility. (photos from left: John Ricard / BET, Max B/Myspace)

"Trap House" feat. Birdman and Rick Ross - Here's the type of collaboration-heavy trap-rap song you probably expected from French. It certainly isn't innovative, but Jahlil Beats' production keeps the drama-level high with string chords giving way to a '70s cop-show theme-song synth riff and frenetic Lex Luger-type high-hats dramatically dropping to bigger, more booming drums. And big-time rhymes from Rick Ross and Birdman will undoubtedly help the promise of the catchy chorus — "they talkin' 'bout me in the traphouse" — come true.  (Photos from left: William D. Bird/Getty Images, Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for VH1 Save The Music, Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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"Trap House" feat. Birdman and Rick Ross - Here's the type of collaboration-heavy trap-rap song you probably expected from French. It certainly isn't innovative, but Jahlil Beats' production keeps the drama-level high with string chords giving way to a '70s cop-show theme-song synth riff and frenetic Lex Luger-type high-hats dramatically dropping to bigger, more booming drums. And big-time rhymes from Rick Ross and Birdman will undoubtedly help the promise of the catchy chorus — "they talkin' 'bout me in the traphouse" — come true.  (Photos from left: William D. Bird/Getty Images, Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for VH1 Save The Music, Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

"Ain’t Worried About Nothin'" - This recent single is Exhibit A of French's preternatural ability to craft true anthems, highlighted by repetitive but unforgettable choruses that ascend to the level of catchphrase/life slogan. He won't win "Quotable of the Month," but you'll find yourself singing along to each line regardless. There's a definite Future influence in the robotic, half-sung rhymes here and throughout the album, but on this song at least, French makes the style his own. (photo: John Ricard / BET)

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"Ain’t Worried About Nothin'" - This recent single is Exhibit A of French's preternatural ability to craft true anthems, highlighted by repetitive but unforgettable choruses that ascend to the level of catchphrase/life slogan. He won't win "Quotable of the Month," but you'll find yourself singing along to each line regardless. There's a definite Future influence in the robotic, half-sung rhymes here and throughout the album, but on this song at least, French makes the style his own. (photo: John Ricard / BET)

"Paranoid" feat. Young Cash - On this song, however, French takes it too far with the Auto-tune-crooned trap-rap that Future has all but trademarked at this point. It's straight-up derivative here; a casual listener would be forgiven for thinking that this song is actually Future's. Ironically, Young Cash, a protégé of T-Pain, the true originator of the style, sings the hook. (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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"Paranoid" feat. Young Cash - On this song, however, French takes it too far with the Auto-tune-crooned trap-rap that Future has all but trademarked at this point. It's straight-up derivative here; a casual listener would be forgiven for thinking that this song is actually Future's. Ironically, Young Cash, a protégé of T-Pain, the true originator of the style, sings the hook. (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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"When I Want" - This song, another cinematic trap banger, features French boasting of getting women, weed and whips from around the world "when I want" over another cinematic trap soundscape. It just might be the perfect anthem for the globalized, instant-gratification-driven, materialistic world of 2013. (Photo: French Montana/Facebook)

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"When I Want" - This song, another cinematic trap banger, features French boasting of getting women, weed and whips from around the world "when I want" over another cinematic trap soundscape. It just might be the perfect anthem for the globalized, instant-gratification-driven, materialistic world of 2013. (Photo: French Montana/Facebook)

"F--k What Happens Tonight" feat. DJ Khaled, Mavado, Ace Hood, Snoop Dogg and Scarface - This bombastic posse cut is a great showcase of French's skillful ability to rep New York while giving other strategic regions a sonic nod. The beat references the Dipset classic "I Really Mean It," a true Uptown classic, but the A-list guests bring Miami, L.A., Houston and even Jamaica aboard. The true highlight, however, is the ruthless verse by a clearly invigorated Scarface.  (photo: John Ricard / BET)

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"F--k What Happens Tonight" feat. DJ Khaled, Mavado, Ace Hood, Snoop Dogg and Scarface - This bombastic posse cut is a great showcase of French's skillful ability to rep New York while giving other strategic regions a sonic nod. The beat references the Dipset classic "I Really Mean It," a true Uptown classic, but the A-list guests bring Miami, L.A., Houston and even Jamaica aboard. The true highlight, however, is the ruthless verse by a clearly invigorated Scarface.  (photo: John Ricard / BET)

"Gifted" feat. The Weeknd - French pulls out his impressive Rolodex for a feature from the ever-elusive Weeknd, a selective collaborator to the extreme, on this album highlight. The Toronto does his usual dark, drugged-out lover-boy routine in his angelic alto, but French is in do-or-die mode: "This that Derek Jeter on his last catch, this that Whitney Houston on her last track," he raps. (Photos from Left: John Ricard / BET, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)

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"Gifted" feat. The Weeknd - French pulls out his impressive Rolodex for a feature from the ever-elusive Weeknd, a selective collaborator to the extreme, on this album highlight. The Toronto does his usual dark, drugged-out lover-boy routine in his angelic alto, but French is in do-or-die mode: "This that Derek Jeter on his last catch, this that Whitney Houston on her last track," he raps. (Photos from Left: John Ricard / BET, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)

"Ballin' Out" feat. Jeremih and Diddy - On this potential single — on an album full of them — Jeremih delivers another mantra-like chorus and surprisingly amped-up double-time rap-like verse, quietly padding his track record as one of R&B's bankable guest features. That's the song's sonic highlight, but you can't ignore the verse from French's Bad Boy boss Diddy — the song is called "Born to Ball" after all. (Photos from Left, John Ricard/BET, PacificCoastNews.com)

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"Ballin' Out" feat. Jeremih and Diddy - On this potential single — on an album full of them — Jeremih delivers another mantra-like chorus and surprisingly amped-up double-time rap-like verse, quietly padding his track record as one of R&B's bankable guest features. That's the song's sonic highlight, but you can't ignore the verse from French's Bad Boy boss Diddy — the song is called "Born to Ball" after all. (Photos from Left, John Ricard/BET, PacificCoastNews.com)

"I Told Em" - Even with two wars and the great recession dragging on over recent years, mainstream hip hop, and pop culture in general, has been all about escapism, “I Told ‘Em” embodies the zeitgeist. Yes, there’s a bar-long acknowledgment of struggle — “Where I’m from it’s dope fiends, no such thing as heroes” — but then he’s back to the fantasy world, telling his jet pilot to ferret him away from all the madness. Still, it’s funny hearing French, who seems to inhabit a world of rap videos and nightclubs and constantly surrounded by entourage members and models saying he wants some alone time. (Photo: Instagram via French Montana)

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"I Told Em" - Even with two wars and the great recession dragging on over recent years, mainstream hip hop, and pop culture in general, has been all about escapism, “I Told ‘Em” embodies the zeitgeist. Yes, there’s a bar-long acknowledgment of struggle — “Where I’m from it’s dope fiends, no such thing as heroes” — but then he’s back to the fantasy world, telling his jet pilot to ferret him away from all the madness. Still, it’s funny hearing French, who seems to inhabit a world of rap videos and nightclubs and constantly surrounded by entourage members and models saying he wants some alone time. (Photo: Instagram via French Montana)

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2. French Montana ft. Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne "Pop That" - French Montana enlisted the help of familiar friends Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne for the summer club anthem “Pop That.”(Photo: Bad Boy Records)

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“Pop That” feat. Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne - You know the deal here. This ubiquitous twerk anthem is French’s wheelhouse: a sample (Luke's "I Wanna Rock"), which gives a shout to one of his homes away from homes (Miami); A-list collaborators; and endless references to the streets, the suits and the strip clubs. (Photo: Bad Boy Records)

“Freaks” feat. Nicki Minaj - French oddly puts two all-too-familiar singles in a row, following “Pop That” with “Freaks.” Combining a raunchy Nicki Minaj verse with two dancehall classics — the hook from Lil Vicious’ “Freaks” and the beat from Chaka Demus and Pliers’ “Murder She Wrote” — is undoubtedly a smart move for guaranteed radio and club play, but the song lacks the cocky heft and indescribable “Frenchiness” that makes songs like “Ain’t Worried ‘Bout Nothin’” and “Told ‘Em” so effective. (Photo: Interscope Records)

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“Freaks” feat. Nicki Minaj - French oddly puts two all-too-familiar singles in a row, following “Pop That” with “Freaks.” Combining a raunchy Nicki Minaj verse with two dancehall classics — the hook from Lil Vicious’ “Freaks” and the beat from Chaka Demus and Pliers’ “Murder She Wrote” — is undoubtedly a smart move for guaranteed radio and club play, but the song lacks the cocky heft and indescribable “Frenchiness” that makes songs like “Ain’t Worried ‘Bout Nothin’” and “Told ‘Em” so effective. (Photo: Interscope Records)

"We Go Wherever We Want" Feat. Ne-Yo and Raekwon - In another bit of misguided sequencing, French follows the dancehall tribute with another remake of sorts, this time jacking the beat from the Wu-Tang classic "Ice Cream" and even tapping Raekwon for a verse. It's another smart and effective club-pleaser, but how many does one album need? The time may have been better served with a song with some new perspective. Surely not even French spends all his time in the club. (Photos from Left: Tim Whitby/Getty Images, Jon Ricard/BET,  Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for BET)

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"We Go Wherever We Want" Feat. Ne-Yo and Raekwon - In another bit of misguided sequencing, French follows the dancehall tribute with another remake of sorts, this time jacking the beat from the Wu-Tang classic "Ice Cream" and even tapping Raekwon for a verse. It's another smart and effective club-pleaser, but how many does one album need? The time may have been better served with a song with some new perspective. Surely not even French spends all his time in the club. (Photos from Left: Tim Whitby/Getty Images, Jon Ricard/BET,  Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for BET)

"Bust It Open" - "Bust It Open" is basically "Pop That" part deux. Producers the Arsenals sample another portion of Luke's "I Wanna Rock" while French enrolls Lil Wayne's "beat it up" lovemaking school. French knows a successful formula when he sees one, but it seems more lazy than efficacious, especially for the last track on the album's standard edition.(photo: John Ricard / BET)

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"Bust It Open" - "Bust It Open" is basically "Pop That" part deux. Producers the Arsenals sample another portion of Luke's "I Wanna Rock" while French enrolls Lil Wayne's "beat it up" lovemaking school. French knows a successful formula when he sees one, but it seems more lazy than efficacious, especially for the last track on the album's standard edition.(photo: John Ricard / BET)

"Drink Freely" feat. Rico Love - Excuse My French has club singles, radio singles and street singles, but this is the first attempt at some semblance of a seduction and romance. Encouraging their female company to have another round "on me," French and singer-producer Rico Love show Rick Ross the nice, non-rape-y way to offer a woman a drink. (Photos from Left to Right: Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET,  John Parra/Getty Images for SMG)

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"Drink Freely" feat. Rico Love - Excuse My French has club singles, radio singles and street singles, but this is the first attempt at some semblance of a seduction and romance. Encouraging their female company to have another round "on me," French and singer-producer Rico Love show Rick Ross the nice, non-rape-y way to offer a woman a drink. (Photos from Left to Right: Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET,  John Parra/Getty Images for SMG)

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"Throw It in the Bag" feat. Chinx Drugz - French and his Coke Boyz compatriot Chinx Drugz go back to their comfort zone here, rhyming over the usual pounding 808s and skittering high-hats. This isn't Fabolous' "Throw It in the Bag" shopping spree; it's more like a crime spree, but after 15 tracks (we're two into the deluxe edition now), French has covered this ground twice already. (photo: John Ricard / BET)

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"Throw It in the Bag" feat. Chinx Drugz - French and his Coke Boyz compatriot Chinx Drugz go back to their comfort zone here, rhyming over the usual pounding 808s and skittering high-hats. This isn't Fabolous' "Throw It in the Bag" shopping spree; it's more like a crime spree, but after 15 tracks (we're two into the deluxe edition now), French has covered this ground twice already. (photo: John Ricard / BET)

"Marble Floors" feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz - French taps some of his usual rhyming co-defendants for this crowd-pleasing posse cut. 2 Chainz steals the show on the mic with tongue-in-cheek tastelessness, boasting he'd do the breast cancer walk, but the real star is hit-maker Mike Will Made. Its sci-fi-trap beat and its blindingly fast high-hats, pitched and patterned so that they're more melodic sound effect than percussion.    (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for VH1 Save The Music)

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"Marble Floors" feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz - French taps some of his usual rhyming co-defendants for this crowd-pleasing posse cut. 2 Chainz steals the show on the mic with tongue-in-cheek tastelessness, boasting he'd do the breast cancer walk, but the real star is hit-maker Mike Will Made. Its sci-fi-trap beat and its blindingly fast high-hats, pitched and patterned so that they're more melodic sound effect than percussion.    (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for VH1 Save The Music)

"Ocho Cinco" feat. Diddy, Machine Gun Kelly, Los and Red Café - Bad Boy 2.0 forms like Voltron on this song, which coins a whole new hilariously offensive way to get oral sex. It probably should've been on the standard edition, just to make a statement about the label's new vision. Los probably kills it hardest, but Diddy actually makes the closing statement with appropriate pomp and circumstance, thanks to a dramatic, orchestral beat switch. (Photo: Donald Bowers/Getty Images for Samsung)

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"Ocho Cinco" feat. Diddy, Machine Gun Kelly, Los and Red Café - Bad Boy 2.0 forms like Voltron on this song, which coins a whole new hilariously offensive way to get oral sex. It probably should've been on the standard edition, just to make a statement about the label's new vision. Los probably kills it hardest, but Diddy actually makes the closing statement with appropriate pomp and circumstance, thanks to a dramatic, orchestral beat switch. (Photo: Donald Bowers/Getty Images for Samsung)

"40" feat. Trey Songz and Fabolous - After an album anchored by other producers jacking his signature sound, it's good to hear Lex Luger, who's been less active of late, show up to close this one out. Unfortunately, after nearly 17 tracks of beat-makers jacking his old sound kit, Lex doesn't update it, and at this point ears are craving for something different. Still, we're glad French went straight to the source, and the song's two guest features sign this big album off with an appropriately bold-face flourish. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

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"40" feat. Trey Songz and Fabolous - After an album anchored by other producers jacking his signature sound, it's good to hear Lex Luger, who's been less active of late, show up to close this one out. Unfortunately, after nearly 17 tracks of beat-makers jacking his old sound kit, Lex doesn't update it, and at this point ears are craving for something different. Still, we're glad French went straight to the source, and the song's two guest features sign this big album off with an appropriately bold-face flourish. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)